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City of Auburn Releases its Comprehensive Plan
Click here to view the complete version of the Comprehensive Plan.
Economic and environmental sustainability are the driving forces behind a master plan for the City that was unveiled at the end of October. Consultants, Saratoga Associates, presented the draft of what will become the City's comprehensive plan to a group of local leaders and officials at city hall. The presentation covered priorities authors say officials should consider as the City develops over the next decade.
Auburn has the potential to foster a thriving downtown, healthy neighborhoods, cultural diversity, an active arts community, successful tourism industry, environmentally sustainable development and an entrepreneurial spirit, according to the plan's vision statement. The comprehensive plan will serve as the blueprint for city officials on how to achieve those goals over 10 years.
“This is a starting point in terms of priorities,” said George Homsy, a planner with Saratoga Associates, the firm hired by the City to develop the master plan.
To meet those priorities, the plan gives the following directions:
- Enhance the city's downtown, making it a walkable, vibrant place where people live, work and go for arts and entertainment.
- Revitalize neighborhoods through emphasizing pedestrians, protecting character in new developments, encouraging environmental friendliness and improving quality of life.
- Grow business with sustainable development principles, renovated commercial properties, improved signage and universal broadband access.
- Improve the city's gateways to make a more welcoming environment.
- Focus on the Owasco River as a tool for tourism, quality of life and economic development.
- Simplify development through improvements to codes and zoning policies.
The 125-page plan covers each of the goals with dozens of suggestions on how to achieve them. The comprehensive plan will guide policies related to land use, housing, energy and infrastructure, technology and transportation.
Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh initiated the planning process a year and a half ago to update the city's current plan, formed in 1991. Palesh said that community members came together during the development stages and recognized the City's potential. Palesh said he has worked on similar plans for other cities. “I've never had a community whose citizens were so involved in this plan,” he said.
The City held numerous workshops at which members of the public shared ideas about different aspects of the community including downtown, the Owasco River, waterfront, business, arts and entertainment.
Much of the information that came from the public meetings, as well as input from the Advisory Committee (A.C.) consisting of local leaders, formulated the plan. “The focus of the comprehensive plan has been driven by what we've heard,” said Senior Planner Stephen Selvek.
The Advisory Committee represented a diverse cross-section of City residents whose role was to provide input and direction to Saratoga Associates. The A.C. was responsible for expanding and refining thoughts and ideas shared by community members. The committee helped prioritize the goals and strategies in the Comprehensive Plan based on the input provided by community members at the workshops. The committee reviewed the plan and recommended approval to City Council.
The A.C. met nine times in the past fifteen months. The purpose of the meetings was to plan for the community meetings, review input from the earlier community meeting, and to craft a plan that is specific to Auburn. In essence, the committee ensured that the voice of the community remained the focus and basis for the plan.
One of the involved citizens was Gwen Webber-McLeod, co-chair of the Advisory Committee. Webber-McLeod said the group worked hard to remain realistic with its priorities while looking to the future with new, fresh ideas. “It's an opportunity for us to literally move this community into the 21st century,” Webber-McLeod said.
The community meetings and workshops started in November ‘08. These highly-attended visioning sessions were held at Cayuga Community College and Auburn Public Theater. Participants shared what they believed to be the strengths and opportunities for the City. Additionally, they expressed their concerns, and started to answer the question: "What is your vision for the City of Auburn?"
Then in January, February, April and May ’09 a series of community focus meetings were held. Each of these meetings focused on a particular topic including Housing and Neighborhoods, Downtown, the Owasco River and Business Development. These meetings were attended by over 100 community members as well. Each of these meetings resulted in valuable community input that shaped the Comprehensive Plan.
Jennifer Haines, the City’s Director of Planning and Economic Development shared, "The community has embraced this process with enthusiasm and vision, and we as City staff are very excited to show residents the results of their work. The plan is strategic and forward thinking, including ideas that are progressive and reachable. City staff is ready to dive in and start working with our partners on these projects!"
Before the final plan is formally adopted, the Advisory Committee met in mid November to get a recommendation for approval from the City Council. December 1st is the Planning Board meeting, where the committee will put forward their recommendation to Council for approval. City staff anticipates holding a public hearing in front of Council on December 3rd, and hopes to have the plan adopted on December 10th.
For more information please contact the staff at the City’s Office of Planning and Economic Development. Senior Planner Stephen Selvek can be reached via e-mail at: SSelvek@ci.auburn.ny.us.
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